Sharon Steih, Massachusetts – 2003

Sharon is the varsity field hockey coach at Norwood High School, Norwood, Massachusetts.  In the early 1970’s, she was involved in implementing the first interscholastic programs for girls at the junior high school in Norwood.  The first teams she coached, from 1972-1988, were 8th and 9th grade girls basketball and softball.  She introduced the field hockey program at the junior high school in 1974 and coached it for 5 years.  From 1980-1984 she was the JV field hockey coach at Norwood High School, and in 1985, she took over the varsity field hockey team and has enjoyed coaching the girls at the varsity level since then.

Her teams have been affiliated with the Bay State Conference, Herget Division.  She is a member of the Massachusetts South Sectional Field Hockey Association and the Massachusetts State Field Hockey coaches Association.  Her team record for 2002 was 18-2-2.  She has posted a lifetime record of 228-78-40.

Teams coached by Sharon have been extensively involved in post season play, earning tournament berths in 1985 and every year from 1987 through 2002 (16 years).  They were the Bay State Conference Crey Division I Champions in 1994 and 1995; the Herget division Champions in 2002; the MA South Sectional Division I Champions in 2002, and the MA South Sectional Division I runners-up in 1998 and 2001.

Sharon has been named the Bay State League Coach of the Year in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2001; the Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year in 2001; and a yearly recipient of the Massachusetts South Sectional Field Hockey Association Service Award.

“I have been involved in field hockey on the state level as well.  Since their beginning, I have been a member of the MSSFHA and MSFHCA.  Presently I am the South Sectional Representative to MSFHCA.  Each June since 1993, I have been on the selection committee for the Bay State Games.  In 1995, I coached the Gold Medal winning Southeast team at the Bay State Games.  I also coached the team representing Massachusetts Public Schools at the Cape Cod Classic New England Showcase in 1996, 1997, and 1998.  The 1997 and 1998 teams were the winners of the Gold Medal.  It has been very rewarding to see several of my players go on to play in college and continue their involvement with field hockey by officiating or becoming coaches themselves.”

“I have had the pleasure of working with the future players of Norwood by building the Norwood Youth Field Hockey Program from a handful of players in 1985 to over seventy girls from grades 5 through 8.”